US ResearchConflictsMexican-American WarCaliforniaSan Diego Naval Occupation
Mexican-American War

San Diego Naval Occupation

1846
California
Era
Mexican-American War
Year
1846
Location
California
Status
Historical record
The Battle

History & Significance

San Diego Naval Occupation was a Mexican-American War engagement fought in California, 1846. It was a United States victory.

Result
United States victory
Forces engaged
United States: 300 US Army regulars, 1,000 volunteers from Missouri, and the Mormon Battalion of 550 men under General Stephen W. Kearny, plus a small detachment of the California Battalion led by Archibald H. Gillespie vs Mexican/Californio: a small contingent of Californios and their Presidial Lancers Los Galgos (The Greyhounds) led by Major Andrés Pico
Outcome
After U.S. reinforcements arrived, Kearny's troops were able to reach San Diego. Both sides claimed victory, and the victor of the battle is still debated.

Approximate location. The nearest recorded settlement is shown; the exact site is unrecorded.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did San Diego Naval Occupation take place?
San Diego Naval Occupation took place in 1846.
Where was San Diego Naval Occupation fought?
San Diego Naval Occupation was fought in California, United States.
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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near San Diego Naval Occupation

Grant, U.S. Hotel
Industrial · 0 mi
San Diego Trust and Savings Bank Building
Industrial · 0.1 mi
Balboa Theatre
Industrial · 0.1 mi
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All battles in CaliforniaMexican-American Warconflicts ›Historic sites in California
Source

This page is compiled from cited public sources.

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